Trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments for providing a trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems. One embodiment of a method includes receiving a request from an entity to participate in secure data sharing within the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems, receiving a type of data that will be shared via the entity, and verifying an identity of the entity, a security infrastructure of the entity, and validating the data to be shared. In some embodiments, in response to verifying, accepting the entity into the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for providing a trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device, a request from a first entity to participate in secure data sharing within the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems; 
 receiving, by the computing device, a type of data that will be shared via the first entity; 
 verifying, by the computing device, an identity of the first entity and a security infrastructure of the first entity; 
 validating, by the computing device, the data to be shared is at least one of the following: accurate, authentic, or within terms of a contract; 
 in response to verifying, authenticating, by the computing device, the first entity into the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems; 
 electronically receiving communication data, by the computing device, sent between the first entity and a second entity; 
 determining, by the computing device, whether the first entity and the second entity are in the trusted framework; 
 determining, by the computing device, that the communication data is validated; and 
 in response to determining that the first entity and the second entity are in trusted framework and the communication data is validated, authenticating, by the computing device, communication of the communication data between the first entity and the second entity. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first entity includes a small unmanned aerial system. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to not verifying at least one of the following: the identity of the first entity, the security infrastructure of the first entity, or validating the data, denying, by the computing device, acceptance of the first entity into the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving data, by the computing device, from a sending entity, directed for a previously accepted entity within the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems; 
 determining, by the computing device, whether the sending entity is a trusted entity; and 
 in response to determining that the data was sent from a trusted entity, accepting, by the computing device, the data to be communicated to the previously accepted entity. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 validating, by the computing device, the data; and 
 reporting, by the computing device, an accuracy statistic for the data and the sending entity for reassessing whether the sending entity should be included in the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the sending entity is not a trusted entity, determining, by the computing device, whether the data conforms with a previously established data sharing policy; 
 in response to determining that the data conforms, accepting, by the computing device, the data to be communicated to the previously accepted entity into the trusted autonomy framework; and 
 in response to determining that the data does not conform, denying, by the computing device, the data from being communicated to the previously accepted entity. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request includes information related to an agreement between the first entity and the second entity for data sharing between the first entity and the second entity. 
     
     
       8. A system for providing a trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems, the system comprising:
 a computing device that includes a processor and a memory component, the memory component storing logic that, when executed by the processor causes the system to perform at least the following:
 receive a request from a first entity to participate in secure data sharing within the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems; 
 
 receive a type of data that will be shared via the first entity; 
 verify an identity of the first entity, a security infrastructure of the first entity; 
 validate the data to be shared is at least one of the following: accurate, authentic, or within terms of a contract;
 in response to verifying, authenticate the first entity into the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems, wherein upon acceptance into the trusted autonomy framework, the first entity may communicate with other entities that have been previously accepted into the trusted autonomy framework; 
 electronically receive communication data sent between the first entity and a second entity; 
 determine whether the first entity and the second entity are in the trusted framework; 
 determine that the communication data is validated; and 
 in response to determining that the first entity and the second entity are in trusted framework and the communication data is validated, authenticate communication of the communication data between the first entity and the second entity. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first entity includes a small unmanned aerial system. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the logic further causes the system to, in response to not verifying at least one of the following: the identity of the first entity, the security infrastructure of the first entity, or validating the data, deny acceptance of the first entity into the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following:
 receive other data from a sending entity, directed for a previously accepted entity within the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems; 
 determine whether the sending entity is a trusted entity; and 
 in response to determining that the data was sent from a trusted entity, accept the data to be communicated to the previously accepted entity. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following:
 validate the data; and 
 report an accuracy statistic for the data and the sending entity for reassessing whether the sending entity should be included in the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following:
 in response to determining that the sending entity is not a trusted entity, determine whether the data conforms with a previously established data sharing policy; 
 in response to determining that the data conforms, accept the data to be communicated to the previously accepted entity into the trusted autonomy framework; and 
 in response to determining that the data does not conform, deny the data from being communicated to the previously accepted entity. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the request includes information related to an agreement between the first entity and the second entity for data sharing between the first entity and the second entity. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one of the following:
 The first entity, wherein the first entity includes a small unmanned aerial system; and 
 an unmanned aerial system traffic management system. 
 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing a trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems, the non-transitory computer-readable medium including logic for execution by a computing device, the logic configured to cause the computing device to perform at least the following:
 receive a request from a first entity to participate in secure data sharing within the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems; 
 receive a type of data that will be shared via the first entity; 
 verify an identity of the first entity and a security infrastructure of the first entity; 
 in response to verifying, authenticate the first entity into the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems, wherein upon acceptance into the trusted autonomy framework, the first entity may communicate with other entities that have been previously accepted into the trusted autonomy framework; 
 electronically receive communication data sent between the first entity and a second entity; 
 determine whether the first entity and the second entity are in the trusted framework; 
 determine that the communication data is validated; and 
 in response to determining that the first entity and the second entity are in trusted framework and the communication data is validated, authenticate communication of the communication data between the first entity and the second entity. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first entity includes a small unmanned aerial system. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to, in response to not verifying at least one of the following: the identity of the first entity or the security infrastructure of the first entity, deny acceptance of the first entity into the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the logic further causes the computing device to perform at least the following:
 receive other data from a sending entity, directed for a previously accepted entity within the trusted autonomy framework for unmanned aerial systems; 
 determine whether the sending entity is a trusted entity; and 
 in response to determining that the data was sent from a trusted entity, accept the data to be communicated to the previously accepted entity. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the request includes information related to an agreement between the first entity and the second entity for data sharing between the first entity and the second entity.